‘When the Lionesses won the Euros I was at Wembley, sitting next to two of the Spice Girls – it was girl power on and off the pitch.’
A feeling of ‘absolute elation’ had passed through Kelly Simmons when the whistle blew at the end of the Women’s Euros final on July 31, 2022.
A sold-out Wembley watched Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses roar to victory against Germany, and millions watched on from home.
It wasn’t long before a fresh wave of football fever hit the country.
Kelly, FA’s director of the women’s professional game, told Metro.co.uk: ‘The feeling when the final whistle went was one of absolute elation.
‘I thought of all the trailblazers, the pioneers, the people who had fought so hard to get us to this point – England were Champions. It felt incredible.’
Former Lionesses – who played after the ban on women’s football was finally lifted in 1971 – also watched on in awe.
Sue Whyatt, who played for England and Macclesfield Ladies, had feared her story had been forgotten.
She was camping during the final and admits her grandson knew more about the squad than she did.
Sue told Metro: ‘When the Lionesses won the Euros I was on holiday in my motorhome, and I had to buy a television for the van especially to watch the match.
‘I had my 12-year-old grandson with me who is quite the statistician when it comes to football. He knew all about the team – I couldn’t watch at times, so he had to tell me what was happening. I’d run back in to watch the replays.
‘When they won, we must have disturbed the whole campsite.’
Sue and her grandson began manically beeping the horn of the motorhome as the game came to a close and England’s fate as European Champions was confirmed.
Also witnessing the final unfold was young Caitlin Passey in the village of Over, Cambridgeshire.
The nine-year-old has the extremely rare Batten disease, a terminal condition which could see her develop childhood dementia.
Her family struggled to find opportunities for Caitlin and her friends to play football, so they took matters into their own hands.
Caitlin’s dad Nick told Metro: ‘’We knew a bit [about women’s football before the Euros] however it was still always a bit of an afterthought due to the lack of opportunities for Caitlin to play with other girls locally.
‘We have now formed our village’s first ever girls team with 16 girls involved and all loving the game.
‘It’s great that the they are all so passionate about football and driving it on to be even more inclusive.’
Caitlin, who has limited sight, uses a special ball with bells attached – nicknamed Jangles – so she can take part in games.
The family have a bucket list underway, and hope she can spend more time with the Lionesses, after a brief visit to their training ground last year.
Caitlin’s favourite player is Leah Williamson, who recently revealed she suffers from the health condition endometritis.
Nick continued: ‘The Lionesses inspire by continuing to promote the female game and by showing that, no matter what background, there is always the chance to reach the top of the game in the same way the boys can as long as you work hard.
‘Caitlin is also hugely inspired by Leah Williamson because she plays with a condition that can limit her but doesn’t let it get in her way.’
Since the Euros, coverage surrounding the growth of women’s football often focuses on the opportunities now available for children and young people.
Investment from companies such as the National Lottery and Weetabix has seen new clubs and facilities created up and down the country.
But for those who didn’t grow up with the new norm of women’s football, there’s still a chance to rekindle a lost love for the sport.
Caz Robertson, 53, would bribe boys at school with Spangle sweets so she could join their kickabouts.
Growing up in Leeds, she loved the sport but never had the chance to play properly until she moved to London.
In 1999, she formed the ‘South London Studs’, but was later told to change its name to the slightly more tame ‘South London Women’s Team.’
She put down her boots when she had two boys, and it wasn’t until July 31, 2022 she was encouraged to pick them back up.
‘You have to see it to be it’, Caz, who lives in Battle, East Sussex, told Metro.
‘I watched the Euros final and was just so fired up that I just became determined to find a way to get playing.
‘I also wanted other women in the area to have the same opportunity.’
Caz put adverts up across town and took to Facebook to enlist women over 40 to join ‘The Battle Axes.’
The veterans team – which includes former Alessio Russo coach Joanne Heath – boasts 50 players.
‘It’s changed our lives in terms of the impact on our confidence, fitness and mental health. These are women who didn’t get the opportunities to play that girls have today, but now have that chance to give it a go. We have one lady who is 74.
‘My message to everyone would be that you’re never too old to play, never.’
Women up and down the UK have seen their confidence grow like Caz since seeing the Lionesses in action at Wembley.
Suzy Lycett, often spotted at Arsenal Women games with a camera round her neck, is among them.
She was a casual viewer of women’s football before the Euros, and would ‘dip in and out’ of tournaments when England or Team GB were playing.
The 34-year-old told Metro: ‘I didn’t know that Arsenal Women played regularly near me, but, after the fervour of the Euros, I saw an ad for the North London Derby.
‘That was the first time I knew I could easily go and watch women’s football, outside of the big tournaments. The Euros encouraged me to go, on my own – something I’d never think to do for a men’s game – and I’ve not looked back since.
‘My life now hinges around women’s football.
‘I can just be completely myself at games, as can anyone that’s there. People say that women’s football is family friendly, but I think it’s simply inclusive; anyone can belong.’
The Red and White AWFC – an offshoot of the Arsenal Women Supporters’ Club – has helped foster new friendships among the team’s growing fanbase.
Members can frequently be heard bellowing chants from the stands of Meadow Park or the Emirates.
Suzy and fellow Arsenal fan Natalie Busher have now launched the podcast ‘Inside the Red and White’ to encourage even more people to get involved.
Suzy added: ‘The Lionesses always talk about inspiring the next generation – and that next generation is so lucky to have role models like them to look up to.
‘But they’ve also inspired the missed generation too, and made so many of our lives better, simply by bringing together a random group of people through women’s football.’
The Euros success has also allowed former friends to reunite.
Former Lioness Sue opted to watch England kick-off their World Cup journey from Boxpark Wembley rather than a motorhome, and saw first-hand what women’s football has become.
Lines of fans queued up for pictures of her and other ex-players as the game against Haiti began on a big screen.
It was an almost bittersweet occasion for the former goalkeeper.
‘Since the Euros, I’ve seen girls pour into my granddaughter’s grassroots club, from other sports like hockey and netball so they’re already good at sport’, said Sue.
‘They are all really enjoying their football and having so much fun – they’re desperate to get to training. This is purely since the Euros – they even want the shirts now.
‘My granddaughter has a Russo shirt – but she also has one with my name and number on.
‘The game has come so far, especially since its had investment from the likes of The National Lottery, but I wonder what we could have done if proper funding had been put in earlier.
‘I had to give up football as work wouldn’t give me time off when I was playing.’
The 1972 squad kick-started a new era of women’s football and played for passion rather than pay.
It was up to women’s footballers in the coming years to battle for equality.
Many played for club and country – often without getting paid – to ensure women’s football continued to grow.
Rachel Brown-Finnis was among the pack of Lionesses who successfully campaigned for professional contracts.
The former goalkeeper played for England on more than 80 occasions, and at club level played for top Women’s Super League (WSL) sides, Liverpool Women and Everton Women.
She is now a pundit for the BBC, and looks back at the post-Euros boom with a huge sense of pride.
She told Metro: ‘All us former players are so proud of where the sport has got to. My seven-year-old daughter has started playing football since the Euros, so that’s fantastic to see.
‘Seeing her and all her friends play is still quite emotional for me.
‘It’s the norm now, but that wasn’t the case for former players who grew up playing with the boys or being the odd one out.
‘When I hear about the FA’s strategies for professional centres and exciting plans in place, it shows everything is moving towards where we have always wanted it to be on a par with men’s football.
‘And I don’t mean that in a monetary sense, I mean that in terms of having equal respect. These are athletes playing for their country and clubs and drawing huge crowds.
‘They deserve respect.
‘When I lived in America, football was for boys and for girls. Anyone could play football, and that’s what I feel we’re moving towards which gives me a huge sense of joy.
‘I’ve seen so many young girls get involved and older women who have found their love of football reignited – long may it continue.’
And for Kelly, sitting with Spice Girls Mel C and Geri Halliwell while watching England win the Euros will be a memory of a lifetime.
She will step down for her role at the FA later this year, but feels proud of what she’s left behind.
She added: ‘In my role as director of the women’s professional game, pre-Euros my highlights were Barclays becoming title sponsor of the WSL and Championship, a multi-million investment in the professional women’s game; and the new TV partnership with BBC and Sky to deliver three live WSL games a week – taking the game to huge new audiences.
‘This meant that we had the foundations in place to grow the domestic game pre the Euro win.
‘It was inspiring to see the Lionesses immediately write a letter to the Prime Minister calling for equal access in schools, as they wanted to ensure a lasting legacy; which the Government fully supported.
‘Since the Euro win we have seen record participation figures, Barclays WSL attendances, TV viewing figures and brands wanting to get behind the game. It has such an exciting future.
‘It is wonderful to see this generation of women and girls getting the opportunities that previous generations could only have dreamed of having.’
Kelly Simmons and Sue Whyatt spoke to Metro.co.uk through the National Lottery.
Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
READ MORE: Hitchhiking to matches and bunking off work: Life as a Lioness 50 years ago
READ MORE: What 2022’s record-breaking women’s sport viewership means for the future
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